#367 Inside the Occult: Ritual Magick, the Golden Dawn, and the Way Out | Jac Marino

In this powerful episode of The Alisa Childers Podcast, host Alisa Childers sits down with Jack Marino, a former practitioner of ritual magic and member of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, to explore her journey from deep entanglement in the occult and New Age spirituality to a life transformed by the gospel. Jack shares how childhood trauma, a desire for control, and the allure of 'secret knowledge' drew her into a world that masqueraded as spiritual enlightenment but was, in reality, a path of deception and spiritual darkness. She reveals how the Golden Dawn, though cloaked in biblical symbolism and ceremonial beauty, promoted a false salvation through works, self-deification, and occult practices that ultimately led to profound spiritual oppression. Drawing from her personal testimony, Jack exposes the subtle ways the enemy infiltrates through distorted views of Jesus, the Bible, and the afterlife—especially through modern phenomena like TikTok and the normalization of witchcraft. She emphasizes the sufficiency of the gospel, the authority of Scripture, and the importance of biblical literacy for believers and parents alike. Her new book, *Ensnared: Overcoming the Darkness of the New Age and Occult with the Light of God's Truth*, serves as both a warning and a beacon of hope, urging Christians to reject the lie of self-salvation and embrace the freedom found only in Christ. Key takeaways include: 1) The occult often disguises itself as spiritual or even Christian, using Bible verses out of context to justify forbidden practices; 2) The desire for control and autonomy is a major spiritual vulnerability that the enemy exploits; 3) The gospel is sufficient—no additional rituals, deliverance ministries, or 'secret knowledge' are needed for salvation; 4) Parents should foster biblical literacy and open dialogue with their children rather than fear-based suppression; 5) The fruit of a belief system—its impact on character and conscience—must be evaluated against Scripture, not just its surface appeal. Jack’s story is a sobering reminder that spiritual deception is often beautiful, gradual, and deeply personal, but the truth of Christ is more powerful, liberating, and ultimately victorious.